LIBERTY PUNCHES TICKET TO REGIONAL FINALS WITH WILD WALK OFF WIN OVER RANDALL

Steven Liles
4 days ago
2 min read

Updated: 3 days ago

Plainview — The Liberty Patriots are headed to the Regional Finals after surviving one of the craziest playoff games of the season Thursday night, walking off Randall 12-11 in Game 3 of their Regional Semifinal series.

For most of Game 3, it looked like Liberty was going to win comfortably.

The Patriots came out swinging early, building a 7-2 lead after three innings behind a hot offense led by Brody Box, who finished 3 for 4 with 2 RBI and scored 3 runs.

But Randall never went away.

The Raiders slowly chipped back into the game before tying it 8-8 in the top of the sixth inning, completely shifting the momentum heading into the final frame.

Then came the chaos.

Randall got to Liberty relief ace Cooper Pierce in the top of the seventh as John Aguilera dropped a bloop single into center field to give the Raiders a 9-8 lead. A fielder’s choice and sacrifice fly added two more runs, suddenly putting Liberty behind 11-8 and down to its final three outs.

The Patriots still had an answer.

Brody Box opened the bottom of the seventh with a single before Jackson Payne reached to keep the rally alive. Levi Walker followed with another single to load the bases, and Gavin McPherson lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to cut the deficit to 11-9.

After Randall recorded the second out of the inning, Liberty’s season came down to Will Hutson.

With 2 outs and facing a full count, Hutson battled at the plate and worked a clutch walk to load the bases.

A wild pitch brought Liberty within one and Randall decided to intentionally walk Jackson Gonzales to load the bases. After falling behind Nash Gonzales 2-0 Randall made a pitching change back to Kauk who would lose Gonzales on a 3-1 pitch walking in the tying run.